Employer organisation proposes changes to reform of labour law

In the context of the debate on the Green Paper on labour law, the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SVVE) has submitted a package of proposals to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs aimed at modernising the country’s labour legislation. The proposals envisage five measures that the SVVE considers as a necessary precondition for boosting the competitiveness and productivity of the Greek economy through the promotion of flexibility in individual and collective employment relationships.

During a meeting organised by the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection (Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικών Ασφαλίσεων, YPAKP), the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (Συνδεσμοζ Βιομηχανιων Βορειου Ελλαδοζ, SVVE) submitted its proposals on the Green Paper on labour law and the modernisation of labour legislation. SVVE’s fundamental position is that, in order to promote the competitiveness and productivity of the Greek economy, it is necessary to support flexible forms of employment and flexibility in the institutions of collective labour law.

Main proposals of SVVE

More specifically, SVVE’s main proposals are as follows:

• to facilitate the conversion of permanent, full-time employment contracts into contracts involving new forms of employment, such as fixed-term or part-time contracts or subsidised short-term work contracts. Moreover, SVVE proposes the conversion of fixed-term or open-ended employment contracts into contracts of self-employment, as well as introducing minimum conditions and guarantees to ensure workers’ basic rights;

• to boost flexibility by extending working hours and restricting the bureaucracy and different types of penalties provided for under current legislation (GR0509104F). In addition, SVVE suggests introducing the restrictions necessary to safeguard workers’ health and safety, which should not nevertheless obstruct the free will of social partners if they objectively conflict with such provisions. Special welfare measures should be introduced for specific categories of workers;

• to increase the flexibility of collective labour law institutions and make it possible for the social partners to choose the manner in which they will work together, without abuses or subjective preoccupations;

• collective labour agreements should take into consideration the current situation in the labour market and should seek to increase productivity and introduce new technologies, while encouraging international competition;

• the legislation pertaining to the protection of employment and workers’ rights should be separated from social policy regarding the assistance of people who are unemployed. Provisions for unemployed people through active and passive policy measures should be the exclusive responsibility of the state.

Reaction to proposals

The Centre of Workers and Employees of Thessaloniki responded quickly to the proposals. In particular, its president underlined that any proposal which put collective bargaining and collective labour agreements at risk should be deemed unacceptable. At the same time, he stressed that growth would not be achieved by promoting flexibility in labour relations, but by safeguarding jobs and promoting permanent, full-time employment.

Sofia Lampousaki, Labour Institute of Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE-GSEE)